POTULNY’S POWER PLAY PAIR PUTS PHANTOMS PAST PENGUINS

Phantoms Cross 80-Point Plateau With Win

WILKES-BARRE, PA – Ryan Potulny scored two power play goals in the third period to lift the Philadelphia Phantoms to a 3-1 win over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins at Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza on Saturday night. The win gives the Phantoms 81 points on the season and, combined with an Albany win and Hershey loss on Saturday, sets up a Sunday afternoon showdown in Albany between the top two teams in the East Division.

After a scoreless first period, the Penguins jumped on the board first at 13:14 of the second period during a five-on-three power play. Tim Brent measured a shot from the center point that Alain Nasreddine deflected past Scott Munroe, giving the Penguins a 1-0 lead.

But the Phantoms answered almost immediately with a shorthanded goal on the ensuing five-on-four Penguins power play. Jonathan Matsumoto and Kyle Greentree combined to force a turnover along the left-wing boards in the Wilkes-Barre zone. Matsumoto fed the puck from the left circle to Greentree down low to the left of the net, and Greentree in turn found Fitzpatrick crashing the right post. The veteran blueliner put it home for his first goal as a Phantom at 14:33, tying the game at 1-1.

The Phantoms went up for good on their first power play opportunity of the game, which came 90 seconds into the final stanza. The goal itself came 2:40 into the frame when Boyd Kane carried the puck down the right wing and crossed it in front for Potulny, who was headed down the left side. Potulny tipped it past David Brown to make it a 2-1 game. Kane and Potulny then hooked up on a nearly identical man-up goal with 49.1 seconds to play to seal the win.

Munroe stopped 28 of 29 Wilkes-Barre shots to take the win, while Brown absorbed the loss with 19 saves on 22 Philadelphia bids.

Philadelphia now has a record of 38-18-2-3 for 81 points. They remain nine points ahead of Albany, which earned an overtime win over Worcester on Saturday, and are now 11 points ahead of Hershey, which lost at Hamilton. Those circumstances give Albany sole possession of second place in the division, and sets up a 1 vs. 2 meeting on Sunday afternoon when the Phantoms visit the River Rats in a 5 PM start.

The Phantoms return to the Wachovia Spectrum on Tuesday, March 4 to host the Penguins at 7:05 PM. Tickets are available at the Wachovia Complex box office, online at ComcastTIX.com or phantomshockey.com, or by phone at 1-800-298-4200.

Saturday, March 01, 2008